*Black people are not monolithic, and that’s what makes our stories so intriguing!
Justin Simien, the creator of Dear White People, knows this all too well. He’s now gifting Black people a new docu-series, Hollywood Black, which is based on a book by historian Donald Bogle. The new show chronicles the history of cinema from a Black perspective featuring the new “who’s who” in Hollywood. Some familiar filmmakers lending their voices are Ava Duvernay, Issa Rae, Gina Prince-Bythwood, Forest Whitaker and Nina Yang.
EUR sat down with the director and executive producer Simien and gained a better perspective on the lens in which he unveils Black cinema in Hollywood Black.
“A word I’ve come across recently is the dialectic. I’m really attracted to working in the dialectic which means, my work tends to offer a bunch of different points of views at the same time and they don’t even always agree. But I think it’s really hard to get at a truth without considering the paradoxes. The things that are conflicting about it,” he revealed.
In the powerful trailer, you can see the ways in which actors, producers, and filmmakers react to history of Black cinema. Part of the Black history that Simien wished he could delve deeper into was the Queer aspect of Black cinema.
“There’s a legacy of queer Black artists who were always queer, but maybe couldn’t talk about it. Or had to talk about it in very coded ways,” said Simien.
Perhaps there is more to come with Hollywood Black, which is now playing on MGM+, so make sure to tune it!
Episode Descriptions
Built On Our Backs – August 11, 2024
From the silent era to the late 1960s, an emboldened generation of Black actors and directors make films that counter denigrating imagery of Black people and forever change Hollywood’s perception of Black storytellers.
The Defiant Ones – August 18, 2024
Following the unrest of the 1960s, Black filmmakers look to celebrate Black culture on screen. As Hollywood begins to see dollar signs, Black actors and directors try to maintain their dignity without selling out.
The Price of Admission – August 25, 2024
In the 1990s, a new generation of Black filmmakers and megastars are embraced by the studio system. Yet independent and female filmmakers who diverge from mainstream portrayals of Black life still struggle for recognition.
Dear Black People – September 1, 2024
After the election of President Barack Obama, Hollywood offers Black filmmakers more opportunities than ever. From Selma to Get Out to Black Panther, Black filmmakers embrace new genres to critical and commercial success.
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